Why Some Etsy Reviews Don’t Show Up

Many sellers search “why some Etsy reviews don’t show up” after noticing missing feedback, vanished comments, or buyers saying they “left a review” that never appears. Hidden, delayed, or removed Etsy reviews can be caused by review eligibility rules, policy violations, timing issues, technical glitches, or edits requested by buyers or Etsy.

In this guide, you’ll learn the main reasons reviews go missing, how Etsy’s review system actually works, what can cause reviews to be removed or never published, and what to check on your own account before worrying. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for the next time you wonder why some Etsy reviews don’t show up.

How Etsy reviews work behind the scenes

When buyers can leave a review and how long the window lasts

Etsy reviews do not open right after purchase. A buyer can leave a review only after the order reaches its estimated delivery date or confirmed delivery date.

For tracked shipments, Etsy uses the date the carrier marks the package as Delivered.
If there is no tracking, Etsy calculates an estimated delivery date from your processing time plus the shipping time you set.

From that date, the buyer usually has 100 days to leave or edit a review. This 100‑day review window also applies to digital items, but it starts when the buyer first downloads the file (or within 12 months of purchase, whichever comes first).

If the order was placed as a guest checkout, the buyer must first connect the order to an Etsy account before they can review it.

Star ratings, photos, and how reviews show on listings and shop pages

Etsy uses a five‑star review system. Buyers choose 1 to 5 stars and can optionally add text plus a photo or video of the item.

Here is how those reviews appear:

On a listing page, shoppers see the listing’s average star rating and a selection of recent or especially helpful reviews for that specific item.
On your shop page, Etsy shows your overall shop rating, total number of reviews, and a stream of reviews from across all your listings.

Buyers can now add photos directly from the Etsy app when they leave a five‑star review. Those images appear everywhere that review appears, including the listing reviews and your main shop reviews page. Sellers can choose to hide buyer photos if they do not fit their brand style.

Why your overall shop rating may differ from individual reviews

It is very common for your overall shop rating to look different from the ratings on a single listing.

Your shop rating is an average of all star ratings you have received during a recent time frame, not the lifetime of your shop. Etsy’s help center notes that the score shown to shoppers is based on reviews from roughly the past 12 months, while separate tools like the Star Seller dashboard focus on the last 3 months.

That means:

A few older low‑star reviews may no longer be counted in the visible average, even though they still appear in your review history.
A brand‑new 5‑star review on one listing will not instantly move your overall shop rating if you already have many past reviews.
If you sell very different products, strong reviews on one type of item can help lift your shop average even if another listing has a couple of weaker ratings.

So if you ever wonder why your shop shows, for example, 4.8 stars while a listing has mostly 5‑star reviews, it is simply Etsy averaging all eligible reviews across time, not just what appears on that one product.

Common reasons your Etsy review doesn’t show up at all

Order not marked delivered or within the review window yet

If a review option is missing, the most common reason is timing. Etsy only lets buyers leave a review during a specific review window. For physical items, buyers usually have 100 days starting from either the confirmed delivery date (if tracking is available) or the latest estimated delivery date if there is no tracking.

If the order is still in transit, not marked as delivered, or the estimated delivery date has not passed yet, the “Leave a review” button will not appear. On the other end, if those 100 days have already passed, the review window closes and the buyer cannot leave or edit a review at all.

Digital items are a little different: the 100‑day clock starts when the buyer first downloads the files (or within 12 months of purchase, whichever comes first), so reviews will not show if that window has not opened or has already expired.

Guest checkout, cancelled orders, or refunds blocking reviews

If a buyer checked out as a guest, they cannot review the order unless they create an Etsy account and link that purchase to it. Until they do, there is simply no way for Etsy to attach a review to the transaction, so nothing will ever appear on your shop.

Cancelled and refunded orders are trickier. Etsy treats a fully cancelled transaction as “over,” and in many cases buyers cannot leave a review at all once the cancellation has fully processed. There can be a short processing period (up to about 48 hours) where a review is still technically possible if the order was already within its review‑eligible window, but once the cancellation is complete, the option usually disappears.

If a buyer opened a case against the order, they also cannot leave or edit a review until that case is closed, which can make it look like a review has vanished or never appeared.

Reviews removed because they broke Etsy’s content rules

Sometimes a review really did show up and then quietly disappeared. In that situation, Etsy may have removed it for breaking their review and content policies. Reviews can be taken down if they:

Include hate speech, obscene or harassing language, or graphic content
Share private or identifying information about you or the buyer
Make prohibited medical or drug claims
Are pure spam or advertising
Talk only about things outside your control, such as a shipping carrier named directly, Etsy itself, or another third party
Contain threats, extortion, or attempts to manipulate ratings (for example, fake reviews from friends or competitors)

When Etsy removes a review for policy reasons, it is gone for good and cannot be restored, even by support.

Technical glitches, app vs desktop issues, or slow updating

Every now and then, the problem is not policy or timing but simple tech. Etsy’s site and apps do not always update in real time. A buyer might submit a review that takes a little while to appear on your public listing or in search results, especially during heavy traffic or after system updates.

There can also be differences between what shows in the mobile app and on desktop. Some sellers and buyers report seeing errors when trying to leave a review in the app, only to find that it works fine on a computer browser, or that the review appears in one place but not the other right away.

If you suspect a glitch, it is worth asking the buyer to:

Try a different device or browser
Log out and back in
Wait a few hours and check again

If the review still does not show and you have ruled out timing, guest checkout, cancellation, and policy removal, then it may be time to contact Etsy support and ask them to check the order on their side.

Why a new Etsy review might be visible to you but not to shoppers

Seeing the review in your account or dashboard only

Sometimes you will see a shiny new Etsy review in your Shop Manager, but when you visit your public listing or shop page, it is nowhere to be found. That does not always mean something is wrong.

In many cases, the review is saved to the order and visible in your Shop Manager → Reviews or on the order itself, but Etsy has not yet pushed it to every public view. Caching and indexing can lag a little, especially right after a buyer submits or edits a review. It is common for sellers to see a review in their dashboard first, then see it appear on the public listing or shop reviews page a bit later.

Also, remember that buyers can edit their review for a period of time. During that window, the review may move in the display order or briefly look different between your internal view and what a shopper sees, especially if the buyer is still making changes.

Review still under automated checks or moderation

Etsy uses automated systems and human review to check some reviews for policy issues like hate speech, threats, private information, or spam. If a review is flagged by those systems, it can be held in a kind of “waiting room” while it is checked. During that time, you might see it attached to the order or in your internal reviews list, but Etsy may delay showing it publicly until the checks are complete.

If you or the buyer have reported the review, it can also be temporarily hidden from public pages while Etsy’s team reviews it. If they decide it breaks the rules, it will be removed. If it does not, it should eventually reappear for shoppers.

Etsy hiding reviews that were later edited or reported

A review that has been edited or reported can behave a bit strangely from a seller’s point of view. Buyers are allowed to update their review within a set time frame, and those edits can trigger another round of automated checks. While that happens, Etsy may show you the latest version in your account but hold back the public display until everything passes review.

If a review is reported for breaking Etsy’s content rules, Etsy can remove it completely or hide parts of it, such as a photo or video, while leaving the text or star rating. In that case, you might remember seeing the full review in your dashboard, but shoppers now see only a partial version or nothing at all because it was taken down for policy reasons.

So if a new Etsy review is visible to you but not to shoppers, it usually means one of three things: the system just needs time to update, the review is going through automated or manual checks, or it has been limited or removed after being edited or reported.

Why some Etsy reviews don’t appear on the main listing page

How Etsy decides which reviews to show first

On a listing page, Etsy does not simply show reviews in date order. Reviews are arranged by relevance to that specific listing, using an internal algorithm. That usually means:

Reviews that are clearly tied to that exact item (or a very close variation) are pushed toward the top.
Reviews with photos or videos, or longer, more detailed comments, are more likely to be surfaced because they help shoppers decide.
Etsy also tries to highlight reviews that reflect the current version of the product, so buyers see feedback that matches what they are about to purchase.

On your shop reviews page, reviews are much more likely to appear in straightforward chronological order, but what shows on each individual listing is curated for relevance and shopper confidence.

Relevance vs most recent: why older reviews can appear on top

Because Etsy sorts by relevance on listing pages, an older review can easily appear above newer ones. For example, if you sell a bracelet in several colors and a buyer is viewing the blue version, Etsy may show older reviews that mention that bracelet or include photos of it, even if you have more recent reviews for other products.

Other things that can keep an older review at the top:

It has strong engagement signals, like a detailed comment and clear photos.
You replied to the review, which can sometimes give it extra weight in the display order.

So if you see a months‑old review sitting above fresh 5‑star feedback, it usually means Etsy’s system thinks that older review is more helpful for shoppers on that specific listing.

What happens to reviews when you change or duplicate a listing

Reviews on Etsy are tied to the listing ID and the underlying product, not just the current title or photos. When you:

Edit a listing (change photos, description, price, variations, etc.), the existing reviews for that listing generally stay attached and can still show on the page.
Renew or relist the same item using the same listing rather than creating a brand‑new one, its review history usually continues with it.
Duplicate a listing to create a new one, the new listing starts with no reviews of its own. However, Etsy may still surface reviews from “related” items in your shop on that new listing’s page if the system considers them relevant.

This is why you might see some reviews follow a product through design tweaks, while a freshly duplicated listing looks review‑empty at first, even though your shop has plenty of feedback overall.

Star ratings that count but don’t show as full written reviews

When a buyer leaves only a star rating with no text

On Etsy, a simple star rating without any written comment still counts toward your shop’s overall score. Many buyers tap a star rating on the app, hit submit, and never type a word. In that case, Etsy records the rating for your shop and for that order, but there is no “review text” to display.

You will usually see the star rating in your Orders or Reviews section, and it will be included in your average, but shoppers may not see a separate review block on the listing page because there is nothing to show besides the stars. Sometimes Etsy also groups these bare star ratings into the overall rating summary rather than listing them one by one, which can make it feel like a review is “missing” even though the score is still affecting your average.

Reviews with missing photos or videos after moderation

Photos and videos in Etsy reviews go through extra checks. If a buyer uploads media that is blurry, shows personal data, includes someone’s face without permission, or looks like it might break content rules, Etsy can quietly remove just the photo or video while leaving the text and star rating in place.

From the buyer’s side, it may look like they “left a photo review,” but what shoppers actually see later is only the written part. In some cases, the media may appear for a short time and then disappear after automated moderation runs. The good news is that the review itself still counts; only the image or clip is taken down.

Private feedback vs public reviews on Etsy

Etsy lets buyers share both public reviews and private feedback. Public reviews are the star ratings and comments that appear on your listing and shop pages. Private feedback, on the other hand, is visible only to Etsy and the seller. It can show up in your dashboard or in order details, but it never appears on the public listing.

This is why you might feel like “a review is missing” when a buyer insists they left feedback. They may have:

Filled out a private survey or feedback form after their purchase
Sent you a message instead of posting a public review
Updated their feedback in a way that turned part of it private

Private feedback can still influence Etsy’s understanding of your shop quality, but it does not show as a public written review that shoppers can read.

Cases where Etsy will remove or hide a review

Etsy does not remove reviews just because they are negative. However, it will remove or hide reviews that break its policies. Those rules are written into the buyer and seller policies and apply to both reviews and seller responses.

Reviews about shipping carriers, Etsy itself, or third parties

Etsy expects reviews to focus on the item and the seller’s service. If a review is only about something outside the seller’s control, Etsy may remove it. This includes reviews that are solely about:

A shipping carrier mentioned by name
Etsy as a platform
Another business or person who is not the seller

For example, “1 star, UPS lost my package, Etsy is terrible” with no mention of the product or the seller’s actions is the kind of review Etsy flags as being about a third party, not the shop.

If the review mixes both, such as “The mug is great, but USPS was slow,” Etsy may leave it up, because it still talks about the item and the seller.

Reviews with spam, offensive language, or personal information

Etsy can remove or hide reviews that contain prohibited content, including:

Spam or pure advertising
Harassing, obscene, graphic, or hateful language or imagery
Slurs or discrimination against protected groups
Threats or attempts at extortion (for example, “Give me a refund or I’ll ruin your shop with bad reviews”)
Private or identifying information about someone, such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, or other sensitive details

These rules protect both buyers and sellers. If you see a review like this on your shop, you can report it for Etsy to review. If it clearly breaks the content rules, Etsy may remove it or hide parts of it.

Suspicious reviews from friends, competitors, or fake accounts

Etsy also acts against manipulated or fake reviews. Reviews may be removed if they:

Come from accounts created mainly to boost a shop’s rating (for example, friends or family leaving glowing reviews without real purchases)
Are part of “shilling,” where someone falsely inflates a shop’s review score
Are left by someone who bought only to leave a malicious review and interfere with a competitor
Are tied to coordinated harassment or review-bombing

Etsy uses both reports and automated checks to spot this kind of behavior. When it finds reviews that undermine the integrity of the review system, it can remove them and may also take action on the related accounts.

What sellers can do if their shop reviews seem to be missing

Double‑check filters, sort order, and where you’re looking

Before assuming Etsy has “lost” a review, make sure it is not simply hidden by how you are viewing your reviews.

Start in Shop Manager on desktop, since it shows the most complete view. Go to Shop Manager → your shop name → Reviews and check:

Filters and sort order: Switch between “Most recent” and any other sort options, and clear any filters you may have applied. A review can look “gone” if you are only viewing a certain star range or time period.
Listing vs shop view: A review might show on the Shop Reviews page but be harder to spot on an individual listing, especially if the buyer reviewed multiple items in one order.
App vs desktop: The Etsy Seller app sometimes lags a bit behind the website. If you only checked the app, sign in on a browser and compare.

It also helps to confirm the order actually has a review. Look up the order under Orders & Shipping and check whether a star rating or comment appears there.

How to tell if a review was removed or is under review

If a review truly disappears, it usually means one of two things:

Etsy removed it for a policy violation. Etsy can remove reviews that include harassment, hate speech, private information, spam, threats, extortion, or content that is only about a shipping carrier, Etsy itself, or another third party.

When this happens, the review and any attached photos or videos are taken down and cannot be reinstated.
You may see your overall star average change even though you can no longer see the individual review.

The review is being checked by Etsy. When a review is reported or automatically flagged, Etsy’s team may temporarily limit how or where it appears while they decide if it breaks the rules.

There is no special badge that says “under review,” but you might notice the review vanish and then either reappear or stay gone after Etsy finishes their check.

If you suspect removal, look for:

A sudden drop or jump in your average rating with fewer visible reviews than before.
Any emails from Etsy about policy issues, which can sometimes mention actions taken on reviews or listings.

When and how to contact Etsy support about missing reviews

Once you have:

Checked desktop and app,
Cleared filters and changed sort order,
Confirmed the order actually had a review, and
Looked for any policy or violation emails from Etsy,

then it is reasonable to reach out to support if something still looks wrong.

To contact Etsy Support:

Sign in to your account.
Go to the Help Center and choose Contact support.
Select that you are a seller, then choose the topic closest to “reviews” or “shop performance.”
Follow the prompts to reach chat, email, or a scheduled phone call, depending on what is available for you.

In your message, include:

The order number(s) and approximate date of the missing review.
Whether you saw the review previously and where (Shop Manager, app, listing page).
Any screenshots you may have.

Support cannot restore reviews that were correctly removed for policy reasons, but they can:

Confirm whether a review still exists on their side,
Explain if it was removed for a violation, or
Investigate if there is a technical issue affecting how your reviews display.

Taking a calm, step‑by‑step approach like this saves time and helps you get clear answers about what is really happening with your Etsy shop reviews.

Tips to encourage more reviews that actually show up

Make it easy and friendly for buyers to leave a review

The smoother the buying experience, the more likely buyers are to leave an Etsy review that actually appears on your shop. Start by setting clear expectations in your listings: accurate photos, honest descriptions, processing times, and shipping details all reduce confusion and prevent low ratings.

After an order is delivered, you can gently remind buyers that reviews help your small business. Keep your tone warm and low‑pressure. For example, in your packaging insert you might say: “If you love your order, a quick review on Etsy really helps my shop grow.” Avoid promising discounts, gifts, or refunds in exchange for a positive review, since incentives or “only 5‑star” requests can be treated as review manipulation.

Make sure your customer service is easy to reach and responsive. Fast, kind replies to questions and problems often turn a neutral experience into a happy one, which leads to more 4‑ and 5‑star reviews. Etsy also looks at your average review rating and service quality when deciding how to show your shop in search, so every good review helps your visibility.

Following up without breaking Etsy’s review and messaging rules

You are allowed to follow up with buyers, but messages must stay within Etsy’s policies. Keep follow‑ups simple, helpful, and neutral. A good example:

“Hi [Name], I hope your order arrived safely and that you’re enjoying it. If you have any questions or issues, I’m happy to help. If everything’s perfect, you’re welcome to share a review on Etsy so others know what to expect.”

This kind of message:

Invites an Etsy review without demanding a specific star rating.
Focuses on support first, review second.
Stays on the platform, which Etsy prefers for safety and record‑keeping.

Avoid anything that could look like pressure or manipulation, such as:

Offering money, coupons, or freebies only if they change or leave a review.
Asking them to remove a low review in exchange for a benefit.
Telling buyers you will be punished unless they leave 5 stars.

Etsy scans messages for things like review manipulation, so keeping your wording honest and balanced protects both your shop and your reviews.

Keeping reviews healthy to protect your shop’s visibility

Healthy Etsy reviews are not just about stars; they are about patterns. Etsy looks at your average review rating over time and uses it as one of the signals for search placement and customer service standards. Shops with too many low ratings can see reduced visibility, while shops with strong, consistent reviews are more likely to be highlighted and may qualify for badges like Star Seller.

To keep your review profile strong:

Prevent problems early. Use clear photos, sizing details, and policies so buyers know exactly what they are getting.
Ship on time and add tracking. On‑time delivery and clear tracking reduce complaints about shipping, which often show up in reviews.
Handle issues quickly and kindly. When something goes wrong, offer solutions. Many buyers will update their review after a good resolution.

Finally, remember that a few imperfect reviews are normal. What matters most is that the overall pattern shows you communicate well, deliver what you promise, and care about your customers. That is exactly the kind of review history Etsy wants to show off to future shoppers.